Category Archives: Travel

The journey home

Up at dawn, taxi organized by Christine was on time to meet us at 8 am for our 9:45 flight. Christine had packed all our stuff yesterday so only one last trash run and opening up the bilges to let it all air out and we took the long sad walk off the dock.

Leaving is always so sad, but we’ll be back soon enough.

Turbo prop to San Juan to clear customs, then to Miami, then to Dallas and finally on to Austin and we’ll be home for the first time this year. Gotta get back to work to earn some more vacation time and get back to St Lucia and move the boat back south before hurricane season of 2012.

Dallas from a MD80

It’s definitely holiday season. Travel on a Wednesday is normally business travelers but the holiday season must be eminent.

Pay the damn baggage fees people or leave it at home.

That last minute attempt at shoving the worlds largest carry on in the overhead is good for no one. It don’t fit but you continue to try. First the wheels first then sideways, only to have it gate checked. The 30 mins it takes you to go against the grain while everyone else is trying to get to their seat makes that $25 dollars you saved worth it.

Christine and I found an Irish pub in Dallas. Cold beer and 1/2 a sammich while waiting on Wayne to make an appearance. We were almost last to board another completely full flight.

Some poor lady won’t take her seat, they have asked everyone to take a seat so they can close the doors. “My husband hasn’t made it on board yet and he was supposed to be here an hour before me”. All 200 of us just can’t wait to meet the man. Finally she gives in. I’m sure he’ll eventually show up at their destination. Only 7 bags had to be gate checked on this 2 hour trip to Miami.

Two pilots sitting in the row behind us. It’s always unnerving when it’s raining and you are about to take off. The nervous tapping foot of the pilot right behind Christine sure doesn’t help. We bounced through the clouds and the cold Smithicks at the Irish pub let me catch a good siesta, as the say in Miami. We is on our way to our next stop for more adult beverages.

Outbound and down

Did we remember everything? That is always the question as we sit there waiting for the taxi to arrive. With 4 completely full suitcases you would think we couldn’t possibly need anything else. Last minute call to see if Wayne had any jello shot cups but we found some room in a backpack so we are all set

At the one mile mark from the airport, it dawns on me my shades that I had been meaning to get out of the car are still in the car. Doh! Looks like I’ll be sporting a fresh set of lenses from an airport somewhere.

We checked in at the curb. The nicest skycap was talking trash with everyone. The cowboys ahead of us whom were no doubt on their way to a rodeo asking where their horses were. The New Yorker that followed wanted none of the Texas humor. Christine rolled with him. Trinidad here we come. He was too busy to weigh the behemoth of a bag that we had packed with stuff for the boat. As it grazed the scale it registered 57 lbs but I know that it’s closer to 70lbs form our scale at the house. Only charged us for 2 extra bags at low rate of $30 each. A bargin when compared to shipping things to Trinidad that required a broker and minimum charge that exceeds the price of an airfare.

We are chillin in the Austin airport ready for that first cold beverage in Dallas to start the adventure off correctly.